Accounting for Life

Henry Alexander Benson was articled in 1926 to L.H. Weatherley Esq, a Partner in Cooper Brothers & Co, Chartered Accountants in the City of London. His grandfather, Francis Cooper, was one of the founding Partners of the now internationally established firm of Coopers & Lybrand. Lord Benson recalls his unrivalled 63 years of professional and public life with wit and clarity – a life which encompasses public practice, the conduct of large scale investigations and special assignments, including the “Ground Nuts” scheme, Rolls Razor Ltd, the horse -racing industry and latterly the Carrian Case and the Roskill Committee. His wide experience and achievements also being awarded the CBE in 1946, knighted in 1964, advanced to GBE in 1971 and created Baron Benson in the 1981 election as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Council in 1966 and appointment as Vice President of the UEC in 1969. From 1973 to 1976 he served as the first Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Committee of which he was the principal architect and now represents professional accounting bodies in more than 75 countries. He was Governor of the Bank of England for eight years until 1983. Despite the claims of public service and the pressures of leading his firm into the ranks of foremost international practices, Lord Benson has never declined to serve his profession. Successive governments, professional and trade associations have continually sought Lord Benson’s advice and he has served on a wide range of tribunals, committees and enquiries. Lord Benson celebrates his 80th birthday this year and is still an active member in the House of Lords where he sits as a Crossbencher and as a member of Select Committees.